THE PREMIERS IN ENGLAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9460, 23 June 1902, Page 4

THE PREMIERS IN ENGLAND.

♦ GREAT COLONIAL BANQUET,

MR BARTON INTERVIEWED,

Electric Telegraph Copyright—United Press Association.

LONDON, June 21. Mr Seddon has dined a,^ Mr Chamber lain's residence.

The South African Association gave a dinner to the Premiers at the Trocadero. Lord Windsor presided. Mr Barton, responding to the toast of "The1 Guests," said the Empire bad traversed a time of great trial and torturing suspense. It j was worth while giving a good deal to" have the war at an end before his Majesty the 'King was crowned. The terms of peace were chivalrous, such as no other nation after such a struggle could have given. Still, they were not too costly, because, besides buying peace, we had gained the good-will of the conquered. He believed that all who had assisted the Empire to the best of their ability, Cmuidians' and Australians' heroic sons in South Africa, would say we fought a magnificently brave foe, fighting according to his lights, a conscientious fight, deserving of the treatment meted out, which may be expected and appreciated. As regards" the suspension of the Cape Constitution, he would only say, without attempting to trench on the domestic concern of that colony, that once free institutions were given to a people, their suspension even for a clay was a danger jus experiment, and only to be undertaken certainly when no other course succeeds. As regards the Conference, said Mr Barton, whether a distinct agreement resulted or not, federation of the Empire depended on our relationship, besides blood ties and affection, as a brotherhood of nations, a union which, without parchment and without formalities, must last for ever. "I and my Australian colleagues are British subjects. The term nationhood is applied to the Australians. I revel in that term. I believe in a j Canadian nutiou, in Australian and South i African nations. The strength of the Empire is in the brotherhood of nations of the, same stock. When you hear the Coiiinioinvealfch somewhat criticised on accou'it of some of her legislation, I ask you to remember-one of the strongest feelings we have there. We mean to maintain that Continent as far as possible for British blood. (Cheers). If my friend Mr Seddon was here he would be able to express more heartily than myself that whether we live in Australia, South Afrie.l, or elsewhere, the war has supplied unwritten arguments making the continuity of til's Empire #,n indestructible fact. Mr Barton, interviewed T said that Lord Hopetoun had authorised him To give a categorical denial to the Times' statements of M-ty 16th, that deplorable differences had arisen between Lord Hopetoun and the Cabinet, and that they. had broken faith with him. Mr Barton characterised the statements as audnrious, and as unjust aspersions upon Lord Hopetoun. Mr Barton recognised that if the Go-vrmor-General's position remained unchanged, Mr Chamberlain would have great difficulty in selecting a future occupant. He favored preferential trade if possible to overcome the surrounding difficuJlk'S, especially Germany's threats of retaliation. An Imperial zollverin would be impossible fit present. Mutual tariff concessions within the Empire was more practicable. Repardintr defence, Australia's attitude, he said, would be considerably influenced by the necessity for strict economy for so^e years. He favored one final Court of Appeal for fche whole Empire, on Mr Justice Hodge's lines. Australia was following British precedents in collecting duties before the tariff was passed. He did not attach imporI tance to allegations of illegal procedure.